Mark
R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration,
New England Field Division, Colonel Timothy Barry, Commander of the Connecticut
State Police, Lisa Bolduc, Chief of Willimantic Police Department, and
Arthur Spada, Commissioner of Public Safety, announced today the arrest
of 46 individuals and the seizure of a significant amount of heroin.

This investigation
targeted street level dealers, mid to upper level heroin traffickers and
sources of supply from outside the Windham County area. The investigation
resulted in a total of 46 arrests. Of those arrested, 16 were arrested
on warrants charging them with various counts of sales. These sales were
the result of extensive undercover investigations. As a result of this
investigation 5,552 bags of heroin packaged for street level sale, 6 ounces
of cocaine and over $3,000 in cash was seized.

It
is anticipated that the increased enforcement efforts will make an immediate
impact on the Willimantic area and information obtained as a direct result
of these arrests will prove helpful in these efforts. Additional arrests
are anticipated for warrants held and not yet served.

The case was investigated
by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Connecticut State Police
and the Willimantic Police Department.